NPC - news, injuries etc

[Stargazer]

IIRC, (a majority of) the provincial unions have already rejected a format based on geography, but now NZR is still asking the public whether they want it? Is this because they want to force this upon the provinces?

The survey has been sent to #TeamAllBlacks members.

Merit or geography? NZR seek input from fans on future of provincial competition

For the second time in the space of a year, New Zealand Rugby have sought input from fans concerning the future of the game.

[Tim]

One-test All Blacks playmaker Brett Cameron moves north for 2021 provincial season

Crusaders playmaker Brett Cameron has played his final match for Canterbury as he eyes a return to the All Blacks.

[Yeetyaah]

@Tim probably a good signing? Cameron's pretty mediocre but probably good for Manawatū. Wonder if he's gonna switch Super teams as well.

[Chris B.]

@Stargazer Definitely should be merit over geography IMO.

We have seen the geography conferences in Super rugby and they've been unfair (and rubbish).

I also think the Hawkes Bay argument in that article is a red herring. You've got to be good enough to get yourself into the First Division to be able to compete for the title.

North Harbour beat both Ta$man and Auckland (the finalists) in the regular season, but weren't good enough to make the play-offs and in fact got relegated!

[Stargazer]

@Yeetyaah To the Canes haha? They collect mediocre tens!

I don't know how many starts/minutes he got for Canterbury during the 2020 season, but the signs may have been on the wall that Cameron is being/has been overtaken by Burke? Probably also at the Crusaders, considering Razor preferred Havili over both Cameron and Burke as Mo'unga's replacement, last year, so doesn't have much confidence in Cameron (despite coaches talking him up in the media, last week).

[Yeetyaah]

@Stargazer well I'd hope it's the Canes instead of the Chiefs, man I'd be livid.

[Bovidae]

Cameron is from Whanganui, so if he isn't re-signed by the Crusaders the Canes would make sense.

[Canes4life]

@Bovidae looks likely he will end up at the Canes. Not sure how I feel about this one. I suppose you can't get much worse than Hickey so it's an improvement.

Looks like the Canes see Ruben Love more as a fullback option aswell, unless they are just playing him there now before shifting him to 10 later on. (similar to how they utilised Beauden when he was younger / when Cruden was around).

[Higgins]

@Chris-B said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:

@Stargazer Definitely should be merit over geography IMO.

We have seen the geography conferences in Super rugby and they've been unfair (and rubbish).

I also think the Hawkes Bay argument in that article is a red herring. You've got to be good enough to get yourself into the First Division to be able to compete for the title.

North Harbour beat both Ta$man and Auckland (the finalists) in the regular season, but weren't good enough to make the play-offs and in fact got relegated!

Sadly, from my point of view, they also toweled up my guys big time by about forty as well.

[Stargazer]

@Higgins Our B/C team.

[Higgins]

@Stargazer I know that (we were resting a number of players in preparation for the more important Ranfurly Shield defence) but it still goes down in the records books as the North Harbour 1st XV beating the Hawkes Bay 1st XV.

[Steven Harris]

@Tim this is a good pick up for the Turbos , this could also be a good move for Cameron , I thinks he’s had to live in the shadow of some very good Canterbury 1st fives .
This will give him the opportunity to be the starting 10 and develop his game without the history of the players that worn the red and black jersey before .

Rivez Reihana has also signed with the Northland Taniwha for 3 years ..Another one returning home , great to see .

[Tim]

@Steven-Harris said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:

Rivez Reihana has also signed with the Northland Taniwha

Nice, a good 10 is a huge addition to their squad.

[Steven Harris]

@Tim it’s also raised some interesting questions for the Taniwha ,.Johnny Cooper has only signed for one year ..
Are Hawkins and Faiane still in the picture ...?.I suspect Faiane may shoot the gap .

[Yeetyaah]

@Steven-Harris as in Cooper just re-signed for another year? Or he was only signed for one year meaning last year?

[Steven Harris]

@Yeetyaah , signed last year for one season, and has re signed again for 2021 only

[Stargazer]

Southland have announced several signings the past week:

• hookers Greg Pleasants-Tate and Flynn Thomas (GPT now with Suntory Sungoliath in Japan)
• forwards Charles Alaimalo and Joe Walsh (Alaimalo now with Zebre in Italy)
• outside backs Rory van Vugt and Isaac Te Tamaki (van Vugt will be playing MLR first)
• two young lads: Arese Poliko (no. 8 ) and Niko Manaena (prop)

[Yeetyaah]

Are NZR possibly bringing back the NPC name?

[Tim]

@Yeetyaah Well they're looking for a new naming rights sponsor, as Mitre 10 pulled out.

[Kiwiwomble]

@Tim id missed that, would be good if they kept the comp name and just changed the naming sponsor

like the Premier League is always the Premier League